Search - Shorty Rogers, Andre Previn :: Collaboration

Adventuresome, swinging improvisations to be enjoyed, not ov

Matthew Watters | Vietnam | 02/03/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Followers of the Parkers (Evan and William, not Charlie) might find this a real eye-opener, an example of spontaneous, collective improvisation made way back in 1953! The liner notes over-analyse it, trying to justify a record of jazz not based on chord changes, but to a generation now familiar with modal playing and free improvisation, this is just swinging, exciting music. And to fans of one of Miles Davis finest but most obscure recordings, 1955's Blue Moods, Collaboration: West could sound like that record's more aggressive cousin. For Blue Moods featured the same trumpet-vibes-bass-drums line-up as Collaboration: West's first four tracks, with Teddy Charles once again pulling down vibe duties. The often overlooked Mr. Charles loved exploring the polytonal potential of the vibes, and Mr. Davis always had a fine ear and superb taste for what others were doing. I wouldn't be surprised if he hadn't heard Collaboration: West and decided to try his hand at something similar. The result, with Charles Mingus on bass and Elvin Jones on drums, was cool-toned and sublime, but it doesn't detract one bit from the achievement of Collaboration: West, which features the wonderful Shorty Rogers on trumpet and the incredibly swinging duo of drummer Shelly Manne (who sounds very polyrhythmic and avant garde here) and bassist Curtis Counce (who is powerfully propulsive.) Collaboration: West was exciting, highly creative and fascinatingly ahead of its time. It remains a joy to hear."